Bestie Bite has made headlines by securing $700,000 in funding to bring fresh functionality to the restaurant industry. This Italian startup, founded in 2024, is rethinking how we discover restaurants. By using authentic video reviews and gamified interactions, Bestie Bite is tapping into a growing demand for trustworthy recommendations while solving a global pain point: the time-consuming process of choosing where to dine.
Breaking Down Bestie Bite's Approach
Restaurants and diners are often trapped in the maze of fake reviews, influencer-driven endorsements, and endless scrolling through generic content. Bestie Bite wants to fix this by rewarding users directly for sharing their honest dining experiences through video uploads. Their mobile app converts these user-generated videos into dynamic promotional content for restaurants, delivered with the help of AI. This sort of peer-to-peer storytelling has proven enticing to over 70,000 users across 70+ countries, with 60,000 reviews already live on the platform.
Bestie Bite doesn't just cater to diners. Restaurants benefit from AI-powered analytics that process feedback into actionable insights. Through simple tools like converting customer feedback into shareable content, Bestie Bite creates communication bridges that feel human yet efficient. For an overview, check out this Tech.eu article on Bestie Bite's process.
Where the $700K Funding is Headed
Led by Techstars, this latest funding round included contributions from Zooga VC, Mamba Ventures, and angel investors like Christian Marcon. The funds are marked for team building, market expansion, and technological improvements. Specifically, Bestie Bite plans to refine AI features and initiate scaled adoption in European markets outside Italy. Carlotta Robbe Di Lorenzo, CEO, views this round as a path toward boosting truthfulness in dining choices and empowering restaurants with transparency tools.
Lessons for Female Entrepreneurs in Europe
As someone who built her own startup from scratch while bootstrapping most of it, I see parallels between Bestie Bite's journey and many female founders striving to disrupt traditional industries. After creating Fe/male Switch, I learned that investing early in scalable functions, like gamification and easy adoption, tends to pay off later. If you're launching a new business, here are key lessons that align with success stories like Bestie Bite's:
- Solve a real problem: Restaurants and diners crave authenticity. Bestie Bite recognized a tangible gap and designed their app around solving it.
- Leverage simple yet powerful tools: From using WhatsApp for sharing promotional content to integrating basic gamified cashback systems, Bestie Bite chose simplicity without sacrificing impact.
- Engage actively with your audience: Bestie Bite grew its user base quickly through viral moments and user rewards, proof that focusing on community building drives adoption.
How You Can Use Gamification Within Your Business Model
Gamification isn’t limited to restaurant apps. If you’re a founder in any industry, you can adopt methods that engage users while incentivizing their actions. Here’s a short roadmap:
- Define what actions you want users to take. Whether it’s signing up, submitting reviews, or sharing your app, make these steps clear.
- Attach rewards. Cashback, discounts, access to exclusive features, these motivators create repeat engagement.
- Don’t complicate. Solutions like Bestie Bite’s missions, where users complete simple tasks for rewards, prove that gamification isn’t about creating complex layers.
Mistakes Entrepreneurs Should Avoid
There’s value in avoiding pitfalls seen in similar startup journeys. From my experience and reflecting on businesses like Bestie Bite, these are the traps to dodge:
- Spending excessively on tech before validating the idea: Build a minimum viable product to test whether users embrace it. Bestie Bite built their app for authenticity first.
- Ignoring operational simplicity: Overloading with features early on can confuse users and dilute your message.
- Underestimating how competitive small markets can be: Even limited operations can bring resistance from competitors. Start local, but plan for broader expansion.
Statistical Insights That Might Surprise You
Here’s a number worth pondering: 85% of startups utilizing gamified AI tools report improved user satisfaction. Authenticity might seem elusive, but backing honesty with rewards is proving magnetic for younger generations. Bestie Bite’s approach matches this idea perfectly, offering a system where diners aren’t just heard, they’re valued.
Conclusion
Bestie Bite’s success is an inspiration for founders aiming to reshape traditional spaces. They remind us to focus on real problems, choose manageable solutions, and connect authentically with both users and investors. If you’re seeking strategies to revolutionize your industry or need a guide on tactical expansions, their story offers useful pointers for growing startup ideas rooted in practicality. Explore their growth story by visiting Bestie Bite’s homepage.
FAQ
1. What problem is Bestie Bite solving in the restaurant industry?
Bestie Bite addresses issues such as fake reviews, influencer-dominated endorsements, and time-consuming searches while ensuring diners get authentic restaurant recommendations via video content. Learn more about Bestie Bite's approach
2. How much funding did Bestie Bite raise, and who led the round?
Bestie Bite secured $700,000 in funding, with Techstars leading the round. Additional contributions came from Zooga VC, Mamba Ventures, and angel investors. Check out details about the funding
3. How does Bestie Bite use AI to help restaurants?
Bestie Bite’s AI processes video reviews into actionable insights and promotional content, enabling restaurants to improve service communication and analyze customer sentiment. Learn more about Bestie Bite's AI tools
4. What tools does Bestie Bite provide for diners?
Diners earn rewards through gamified interactions, such as uploading authentic video reviews, making dining choices more engaging. Discover how diners contribute and earn
5. What motivates users to participate in Bestie Bite?
Users receive cashback and other rewards for completing tasks such as visiting venues and creating video content, fostering honest feedback. Explore the gamification strategy
6. What is Bestie Bite’s vision for market expansion?
The company plans to expand beyond Italy into other European markets, focusing on scaling adoption and refining technology for broader reach. Learn about Bestie Bite's expansion goals
7. Who are the founders of Bestie Bite?
Bestie Bite was founded by Carlotta Robbe Di Lorenzo (CEO) and Caterina Vertefeuille (COO) in 2024. Learn more about the founders
8. How successful is Bestie Bite in reaching users globally?
Over 70,000 users from 70+ countries have joined the platform, contributing 60,000 authentic video reviews, showcasing strong global traction. Check out Bestie Bite's user metrics
9. How are restaurateurs benefiting from Bestie Bite’s solutions?
Restaurants use Bestie Bite's AI tools for real-time customer sentiment analysis, actionable feedback, and reusable promotional content. Explore restaurant benefits
10. What strategies does Bestie Bite use for content delivery?
Bestie Bite simplifies communication using social platforms like WhatsApp to share AI-created promotional videos with restaurant owners. Discover their delivery model
About the Author
Violetta Bonenkamp, also known as MeanCEO, is an experienced startup founder with an impressive educational background including an MBA and four other higher education degrees. She has over 20 years of work experience across multiple countries, including 5 years as a solopreneur and serial entrepreneur. Throughout her startup experience she has applied for multiple startup grants at the EU level, in the Netherlands and Malta, and her startups received quite a few of those. She’s been living, studying and working in many countries around the globe and her extensive multicultural experience has influenced her immensely.
Violetta Bonenkamp's expertise in CAD sector, IP protection and blockchain
Violetta Bonenkamp is recognized as a multidisciplinary expert with significant achievements in the CAD sector, intellectual property (IP) protection, and blockchain technology.
CAD Sector:
- Violetta is the CEO and co-founder of CADChain, a deep tech startup focused on developing IP management software specifically for CAD (Computer-Aided Design) data. CADChain addresses the lack of industry standards for CAD data protection and sharing, using innovative technology to secure and manage design data.
- She has led the company since its inception in 2018, overseeing R&D, PR, and business development, and driving the creation of products for platforms such as Autodesk Inventor, Blender, and SolidWorks.
- Her leadership has been instrumental in scaling CADChain from a small team to a significant player in the deeptech space, with a diverse, international team.
IP Protection:
- Violetta has built deep expertise in intellectual property, combining academic training with practical startup experience. She has taken specialized courses in IP from institutions like WIPO and the EU IPO.
- She is known for sharing actionable strategies for startup IP protection, leveraging both legal and technological approaches, and has published guides and content on this topic for the entrepreneurial community.
- Her work at CADChain directly addresses the need for robust IP protection in the engineering and design industries, integrating cybersecurity and compliance measures to safeguard digital assets.
Blockchain:
- Violetta’s entry into the blockchain sector began with the founding of CADChain, which uses blockchain as a core technology for securing and managing CAD data.
- She holds several certifications in blockchain and has participated in major hackathons and policy forums, such as the OECD Global Blockchain Policy Forum.
- Her expertise extends to applying blockchain for IP management, ensuring data integrity, traceability, and secure sharing in the CAD industry.
Violetta is a true multiple specialist who has built expertise in Linguistics, Education, Business Management, Blockchain, Entrepreneurship, Intellectual Property, Game Design, AI, SEO, Digital Marketing, cyber security and zero code automations. Her extensive educational journey includes a Master of Arts in Linguistics and Education, an Advanced Master in Linguistics from Belgium (2006-2007), an MBA from Blekinge Institute of Technology in Sweden (2006-2008), and an Erasmus Mundus joint program European Master of Higher Education from universities in Norway, Finland, and Portugal (2009).
She is the founder of Fe/male Switch, a startup game that encourages women to enter STEM fields, and also leads CADChain, and multiple other projects like the Directory of 1,000 Startup Cities with a proprietary MeanCEO Index that ranks cities for female entrepreneurs. Violetta created the "gamepreneurship" methodology, which forms the scientific basis of her startup game. She also builds a lot of SEO tools for startups. Her achievements include being named one of the top 100 women in Europe by EU Startups in 2022 and being nominated for Impact Person of the year at the Dutch Blockchain Week. She is an author with Sifted and a speaker at different Universities. Recently she published a book on Startup Idea Validation the right way: from zero to first customers and beyond, launched a Directory of 1,500+ websites for startups to list themselves in order to gain traction and build backlinks and is building MELA AI to help local restaurants in Malta get more visibility online.
For the past several years Violetta has been living between the Netherlands and Malta, while also regularly traveling to different destinations around the globe, usually due to her entrepreneurial activities. This has led her to start writing about different locations and amenities from the POV of an entrepreneur. Here’s her recent article about the best hotels in Italy to work from.
About the Publication
Fe/male Switch is an innovative startup platform designed to empower women entrepreneurs through an immersive, game-like experience. Founded in 2020 during the pandemic "without any funding and without any code," this non-profit initiative has evolved into a comprehensive educational tool for aspiring female entrepreneurs.The platform was co-founded by Violetta Shishkina-Bonenkamp, who serves as CEO and one of the lead authors of the Startup News branch.
Mission and Purpose
Fe/male Switch Foundation was created to address the gender gap in the tech and entrepreneurship space. The platform aims to skill-up future female tech leaders and empower them to create resilient and innovative tech startups through what they call "gamepreneurship". By putting players in a virtual startup village where they must survive and thrive, the startup game allows women to test their entrepreneurial abilities without financial risk.
Key Features
The platform offers a unique blend of news, resources,learning, networking, and practical application within a supportive, female-focused environment:
- Skill Lab: Micro-modules covering essential startup skills
- Virtual Startup Building: Create or join startups and tackle real-world challenges
- AI Co-founder (PlayPal): Guides users through the startup process
- SANDBOX: A testing environment for idea validation before launch
- Wellness Integration: Virtual activities to balance work and self-care
- Marketplace: Buy or sell expert sessions and tutorials
Impact and Growth
Since its inception, Fe/male Switch has shown impressive growth:
- 5,000+ female entrepreneurs in the community
- 100+ startup tools built
- 5,000+ pieces of articles and news written
- 1,000 unique business ideas for women created
Partnerships
Fe/male Switch has formed strategic partnerships to enhance its offerings. In January 2022, it teamed up with global website builder Tilda to provide free access to website building tools and mentorship services for Fe/male Switch participants.
Recognition
Fe/male Switch has received media attention for its innovative approach to closing the gender gap in tech entrepreneurship. The platform has been featured in various publications highlighting its unique "play to learn and earn" model.
